hey how many nails should you use for a 1/2 and a whole sheet cake to bake properly. and where should you place them

Never baked a whole sheet, the largest I've done is a 12 x 17 - I used 1 nail right in the center and it baked evenly - but I also used bake strips as well.

Hope that helps, if not then at least this is a bump for you.

I use 3 or 4 and just scatter them out evenly in the pan

Have heard of this technique a long time ago, but never tried it. How do you do it?

Sarah

Please tell me about this technique. What is the flower nail for during baking and how do you do it? Or have I got this all wrong????
Thanks for any info.

You coat the flower nail the same way you coat the bottom of your pan and place them upside down on the bottom of the pan before you put the batter in so the nail is sticking up. For that large of a cake use 2 or 3 and also use the baking strips. Best of luck!

What are they for??? I hate to be so ignorant.

No problem. It is to ensure even baking all the way around the cake especially in the middle. You will also want to lower your temperature to 325 and bake a little longer (maybe 5 or 10 minutes) depending on your oven and the size of your cake. Hope this helps.

Thank you. I have never heard of that. Is this better than the strips you put around the outside of the cake pans?

For that large of a cake I have always used both but you will find out through trial and error what works best for you. The one thing I have learned is that there is no "recipe" as there are so many variables, you, your oven, the humidity, your cake baking supplies...just so many things to affect the outcome of your cake and that is why I tell you some things you will learn by trial and error. This is a great place to ask all your questions...I love it here because no one has made me feel silly for asking all my newbie questions! Come back often!

I thought I'd add to Samsgranny comments about using the nail. A question I've heard from people who have never tried this was "How do you get the nail out of the pan, won't it leave a big hole when you pull it out?" Just in case you are not visualizing how the whole thing works, here it is. Once your cake is done baking and cooled, flip it out on your board or cooling rack, then pull the nail out from the bottome of the cake. it will only leave a tiny hole from where the nail stuck out - and icing will cover it up.

If you may have been confused, I hope this will help. I know I was confused the first time I tried it.

Thanks for all the tips!

Sarah